Chapter Summaries

Chu Zhiyuan refined the White Cauldron into a personal storage space and discovered that the Pure Flower Pill had greatly advanced his Membrane Refining. When Li Hongzhao pressed him to explore Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion, he revealed the dead woman’s connection to the Carefree Cult and made her question whether Great Meng had harmed her.

• Chu Zhiyuan completed refining the White Cauldron, making its inner space accessible only to him, and found that the Pure Flower Pill had brought him close to completing Membrane Refining.
• Zou Fang told Chu Zhiyuan that Li Hongzhao had arrived, and she urged him to join her in searching for Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Li Hongzhao that Lu Yaofeng’s dead lover had been a Carefree Cult disciple and suggested that Great Meng might have harmed her.
• Li Hongzhao agreed to ask the Great Meng Emperor about the woman before deciding whether to explore the cave mansion with Chu Zhiyuan.
• Chu Zhiyuan hinted that he had secretly sent people to search for the cave mansion, and Li Hongzhao accused him of trying to monopolize its contents.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao prepared to investigate Lu Yaofeng's cave mansion, but Chu Zhiyuan discovered that Li Hongzhao's Detoxification Pearl was fake. He exposed the danger by testing it with poison, leaving Li Hongzhao owing him a life-saving favor.

• Chu Zhiyuan continued searching for Lu Yaofeng's cave mansion while refining the Black Pearl, and Li Hongzhao returned to propose they investigate together.
• Li Hongzhao showed Chu Zhiyuan her Detoxification Pearl, but he recognized it as a fake and suggested they test it with poison.
• Su Qiuyan and Zou Fang helped test the pearl, and the poisoned water grew darker instead of being detoxified.
• Li Hongzhao realized someone close to her had given her a false pearl and promised to repay Chu Zhiyuan for saving her life.

Chu Zhiyuan declined to investigate Li Hongzhao’s family secrets for her, then looked into Great Meng’s fast communications and a deadly clash among sects tied to rumors of Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion. He ordered a thorough probe and the Grandmaster’s Mansion’s involvement, but found Li Hongzhao’s residence strangely calm when he visited.

• Li Hongzhao refused Chu Zhiyuan’s offer to investigate her family secrets and said she would seek a genuine Detoxification Pearl before going to Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked Ma Tianhe to investigate Great Meng’s unusually fast method of sending messages to Tianjing.
• At the Ministry of Rites, Chu Zhiyuan learned that several sects had fought a deadly battle in Xunzhou City after local officials concealed the crisis.
• Chu Zhiyuan suspected the rumor about Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion might have been spread by Great Meng, Great Zhen, evil sects, or major sects, and ordered Gao Lingfeng to investigate Xunzhou City’s officials.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to seek the Grandmaster’s Mansion’s help, then arrived at Li Hongzhao’s residence and found no sign of a strict investigation.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao investigated the leak about Lu Yaofeng's cave mansion, and he persuaded Chu Qingyan to look into the Carefree Cult's involvement. The investigation confirmed a Carefree Cult disciple had caused the deaths and spread a plague, leaving Chu Zhiyuan questioning whether the disciple had joined an unorthodox sect.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Li Hongzhao that news of Lu Yaofeng's cave mansion had surfaced, and they agreed to investigate the leak while guarding against the unknown troublemaker.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Chu Qingyan that the incident in Xunzhou City did not seem to be the work of an unorthodox sect, then identified the Carefree Cult as a likely culprit.
• Chu Qingyan agreed to dispatch a Grandmaster to investigate the Carefree Cult's suspected role.
• Chu Zhiyuan returned to Listening to Waves Courtyard, advanced his cultivation, and completed the fifth level of Membrane Refining while beginning Muscle Refining.
• Chu Qingyan told Chu Zhiyuan that a Carefree Cult disciple had caused the deaths and spread a plague, and Chu Zhiyuan asked whether the disciple had joined an unorthodox sect.

Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Qingyan discussed the possibility that a Carefree Cult disciple had joined a cunning new evil sect, then agreed to report the threat while Chu Zhiyuan investigated Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion with Li Hongzhao. The chapter ended after Chu Zhiyuan sent a Flying Dagger into the cave and suddenly lost his connection to it.

• Chu Zhiyuan warned Chu Qingyan that a Carefree Cult disciple might have joined a new evil sect, and Chu Qingyan said he would report the danger to the Emperor.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to scout Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion with Li Hongzhao because the Grandmasters had not found it.
• Chu Zhiyuan examined three ancient pines and inferred that Lu Yaofeng had laid a deadly ambush inside the cave.
• Chu Zhiyuan sent a Flying Dagger through a crevice into the cave, but its mysterious connection to him was abruptly severed.

Chu Zhiyuan discovered a deadly force inside the cave mansion and warned everyone against entering, so he and Li Hongzhao prepared to leave. They learned that Carefree Cult disciples Song Yichun and Li Yilong had come to retrieve a treasure belonging to their elder, Luo Qingbo.

• Chu Zhiyuan used a Flying Dagger to survey the cave mansion, but a black light destroyed it and revealed a force he believed could kill even a Grandmaster.
• Chu Zhiyuan warned Li Hongzhao away from the cave, ordered Huang Cheng and the other Grandmasters not to approach, and had Su Qiuyan sense the danger from nearby.
• Li Hongzhao agreed to leave, but Song Yichun and Li Yilong of the Carefree Cult appeared and said they had come to open Luo Qingbo's cave mansion.
• Li Hongzhao deduced that Luo Qingbo had taken a treasure from the Carefree Cult and urged Song Yichun and Li Yilong to enter the cave while she and Chu Zhiyuan left.

Chu Zhiyuan suspected that Carefree Cult disciple Cheng had deliberately spread news of Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion and might have entered it, warning Song Yichun and Li Yilong to investigate him. Xu Yingying revealed a Great Bright Sword that could purify anomalous power, and its sword light pierced into the cliff beneath them.

• Chu Zhiyuan told Song Yichun and Li Yilong that their Junior Brother Cheng had spread rumors about Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion, causing deaths and chaos in Xunzhou City.
• Chu Zhiyuan urged the two Carefree Cult disciples to report Cheng’s actions and investigate whether he had entered the cave mansion, whose strange power he believed came from beyond the heavens.
• Xu Yingying and Xu Suying appeared, and Xu Yingying explained that she had secretly followed Chu Zhiyuan using a special secret art.
• Xu Yingying said a Great Bright Sword could purify anomalous powers and demonstrated it by activating and tossing the golden bead.
• The Great Bright Sword unfolded into countless rays of sword light that gathered into white radiance and bored into the mountain cliff.

Chu Zhiyuan and the others investigated the cave mansion, where Xu Yingying's Great Bright Sword destroyed the black flames surrounding an ancient gravestone. They entered the cave to search for Lu Yaofeng's belongings, but the chapter left them at the entrance after Chu Zhiyuan repelled a concealed-weapon trap.

• Chu Zhiyuan used his Super Sensation to discover black flames erupting from an ancient gravestone, and Xu Yingying's Great Bright Sword extinguished them along with the gravestone's strange characters.
• Li Hongzhao teased Xu Yingying about Chu Zhiyuan's marriage to Xiao Ruoling, while Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao traded insults.
• Chu Zhiyuan, Xu Yingying, Li Hongzhao, Song Yichun, and Li Yilong agreed to divide any finds, with Carefree Cult belongings returned to the cult.
• Li Yilong opened the cave entrance, triggering a volley of concealed weapons, and Chu Zhiyuan's Gang Qi hurled them back into the walls.

Chu Zhiyuan and the others navigated deadly poison traps in Lu Yaofeng’s cave mansion with Song Yichun’s help. They found the empty chamber and a strange tombstone that Chu Zhiyuan believed had corrupted Junior Brother Cheng, leaving Li Yilong struggling to accept the truth.

• Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao realized someone had triggered the cave’s mechanisms before them, and Song Yichun identified the first poison as Life Extinguishing Powder.
• Song Yichun dispelled three poison traps, explained the Detoxification Pearl’s limits, and revealed details about the Carefree Cult’s poisons.
• The group reached the cave mansion’s empty chamber and found a translucent tombstone where Outer Heavenly Power had once been contained.
• Xu Yingying identified the tombstone as an Outer Heavenly Strange Stone, and Chu Zhiyuan suggested its power had driven Junior Brother Cheng into evil ways.
• Li Yilong accepted that Junior Brother Cheng had likely fallen into evil ways but struggled with the conclusion.

Chu Zhiyuan and his companions divided the remaining transparent gravestone with Xu Yingying’s outer heavenly dagger before parting ways. Back at the Prince’s Manor, Chu Zhiyuan learned that Chu Zhiting was gravely injured and hurried to King Ying’s Manor.

• Li Hongzhao failed to cut the gravestone with her Phoenix Divine Sword, and Xu Yingying used her dagger to split it into four equal pieces.
• Xu Yingying took one piece to carve a spirit deer and discussed studying a method of strengthening Dharma Forms with Chu Zhiyuan.
• The group divided the gravestone pieces and left the cave, with Song Yichun and Li Yilong returning to report what had happened.
• Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao traveled back together and exchanged barbed remarks about Chu Zhiyuan’s character and his relationship with Sister Xiao.
• Chu Zhiyuan heard that Chu Zhiting was near death from a grave injury, then rushed to King Ying’s Manor and headed straight for Zhige Courtyard.

Chu Zhiyuan visited the injured Chu Zhiting, who had survived an assassination by the Shadow Sect and Jade Cauldron Sect at the cost of his two guards. Chu Zhiyuan promised to avenge him and investigate how the assassins had reached the inner city.

• Chu Zhiyuan arrived at Zhige Courtyard and examined Chu Zhiting, finding that his internal organs had weakened but that his life was not in danger.
• Chu Zhiting told Chu Zhiyuan that four assassins from the Shadow Sect and Jade Cauldron Sect had attacked him, and his two guards had died protecting him.
• Chu Zhiyuan learned that the assassins had escaped when the Town Martial Division arrived, and he vowed to cleanse the city of both sects again.
• Chu Zhiyuan questioned why Chu Zhiting had gone out at night and learned that he had been invited to Linglong Bookstore by one of Tenth Brother's men.
• Chu Zhiyuan said he would have the Town Martial Division investigate the invitation and promised Chu Zhiting that he would avenge him.

After learning that Chu Zhiting had been assassinated by the Shadow Sect and Jade Cauldron Sect, Chu Zhiyuan suspected the attack was part of a trap and sought Grandmaster protection. He then led a swift purge of heretical sect disciples in Jade Capital’s inner city, killing every one within range of his Super Sensation.

• Chu Zhiyuan asked Chu Qingyan for two Grandmasters to secretly guard him while he hunted the heretical sects, and Chu Qingyan agreed.
• Chu Zhiyuan met Huang Shirong, Wen Qianqian, and Xu Mengyu, then learned the Town Martial Division had failed to catch the assassins.
• Huang Shirong warned Chu Zhiyuan that the heretical sects’ unusual infiltration of Jade Capital might have a cause beyond retaliation, possibly a stronger force or ambitions tied to the city.
• Chu Zhiyuan ordered the Town Martial Division to maintain order and began his purge at the city gates so the heretical sect disciples could not escape.
• Chu Zhiyuan moved through the inner city, repeatedly receiving Flying Daggers from Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu and killing more than five hundred heretical sect disciples.

Chu Zhiyuan learned that Consort Rou’s old martial injury had returned and offered to examine her at his new residence. She arrived with Bai Ningshuang, and Chu Zhiyuan greeted her as his grandmother.

• Chu Zhiyuan recovered his strength and reflected on the dangers even Grandmasters could face.
• Bai Ningshuang told Chu Zhiyuan and Chu Minghou that Consort Rou was suffering from an old ailment caused by Qi Deviation while practicing martial arts.
• Chu Zhiyuan decided to try to help Consort Rou and arranged for her to visit his new residence under the pretext of seeking treatment.
• Chu Zhiyuan visited Chu Zhiting, who was pleased that the evil-sect disciples had been dealt with but upset that some Demonic Humans escaped.
• Consort Rou arrived at Chu Zhiyuan’s residence with Bai Ningshuang, and Chu Zhiyuan greeted her as his grandmother.

Chu Zhiyuan spoke privately with Consort Rou, whose failing health threatened to weaken Prince Qing’s Estate, and learned more about the Emperor’s conflict with the Four Great Sects. The chapter left him considering the risk that the Emperor might move against Eternal Spirit Divine Cult and drive the sects into an alliance.

• Consort Rou dismissed her attendants so she, Chu Zhiyuan, and Bai Ningshuang could speak alone in the courtyard.
• Consort Rou suffered a violent coughing fit, and Bai Ningshuang used a pungent medicine to ease it.
• Consort Rou praised Chu Zhiyuan for supporting Xiao Ruoling’s decision to become Moon Invitation Palace’s Saintess.
• Consort Rou explained that the Emperor had cut down Eternal Spirit Divine Cult’s sacred tree, prompting the sect to send the Cloud-Treading Iron Cavalry across the border, and that the Emperor later severely wounded its Cult Leader.
• Consort Rou told Chu Zhiyuan that the Four Great Sects held powerful inheritances and secret territories, and that the Emperor feared they might unite if he attacked one of them.

Chu Zhiyuan learned how the high-grade Secret Lands and the Four Great Sects had created a longstanding stalemate with the Imperial Court, and Consort Rou advised him on competing for the throne. While examining her illness, he recognized its strange rhythm as Outer Heavenly Power and asked whether a Grandmaster from the Fearless Sect had injured her.

• Chu Zhiyuan asked Consort Rou about the Secret Lands held by the great dynasties and sects, learning that the three great nations each had twelve and that the Four Great Sects’ lands were high-grade.
• Consort Rou explained that Chu Zhiyuan could improve Moon Invitation Palace’s relations with the Imperial Court if he became Emperor, and told him the Emperor’s Sword judged character as well as merit.
• Chu Zhiyuan admitted he still intended to contend for the throne, and Consort Rou warned him never to betray his conscience or harm his kin.
• Consort Rou coughed violently, and Chu Zhiyuan examined her organs and identified their strange vibrations as Outer Heavenly Power.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked Consort Rou whether a Grandmaster from the Fearless Sect had injured her.

Chu Zhiyuan used the power of the Fearless Realm to remove the lingering force that had tormented Consort Rou for forty years, leaving her to recover. He then continued cultivating and learned that Muscle Refining meant forging a dragon sinew.

• Consort Rou told Chu Zhiyuan that the Fearless Sect had caused her injury and shared the Qing Yuan Sect cultivation method with him.
• Chu Zhiyuan mastered the method, then used the Fearless Great Perfection Hand Seal and the Imperial Heaven Earthly Soil Scripture to draw the harmful power out of Consort Rou while protecting her body with golden light.
• Consort Rou fainted during the treatment, and Chu Zhiyuan continued until the harmful power was removed.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Bai Ningshuang that Consort Rou would recover, and she appeared radiant an hour later.
• Chu Zhiyuan trained his Sword Qi against the Bronze Tower and realized that the Dragon Transformation Technique's Muscle Refining forged a dragon sinew.

Chu Zhiyuan healed Consort Rou and discussed the Four Great Sects, his imperial ambitions, and the risks of growing close to them. The next morning, Huang Cheng delivered the Emperor’s first-rank merit plaque and warned that Chu Zhiyuan’s cultivation had advanced too quickly.

• Consort Rou recovered after Chu Zhiyuan removed the harmful power afflicting her, and he explained that he had used Fearless Great Perfection Hand Seals and the Dragon Subduing True Scripture.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked Consort Rou about the Four Great Demonic Sects, and she warned that his position as Heir Apparent would likely make them his enemies, though Moon Invitation Palace might be won over.
• Consort Rou cautioned Chu Zhiyuan to keep his distance from the Eternal Spirit Divine Cult and cited the Second Prince as a warning, but Chu Zhiyuan maintained that the descendants should honor the Great Ancestor’s promise.
• The next morning, Huang Cheng brought Chu Zhiyuan a first-rank merit plaque as the Emperor’s reward for healing Consort Rou.
• Huang Cheng conveyed the Emperor’s concern that Chu Zhiyuan had advanced too quickly, and Chu Zhiyuan said he would reach Grandmaster Perfection before consolidating his cultivation.

Chu Zhiyuan learned why he should slow his progress toward the Great Grandmaster Realm and decided to rely on gradual cultivation for the final two layers. Later, Li Yilong and Song Yichun brought him Lu Yaofeng’s inheritance, which he destroyed before inviting them to his estate.

• Huang Cheng explained that a Grandmaster must bring the heart into step with qi to condense a seed of divine intent, and Chu Zhiyuan realized the final two layers of the Violet Sun True Scripture required care.
• Chu Zhiyuan told Huang Cheng he would not use the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique for the final two layers and chose to cultivate with the Sword Nurturing Art.
• Chu Zhiyuan began spending more time reviewing case files at the Ministry of Rites as the departure of the Great Zhen Envoy Mission eased trouble in Yujing City.
• Chu Zhiyuan met Li Yilong and Song Yichun, who delivered the Heaven and Earth Six Severing Palms manual obtained by their fallen junior, Cheng.
• Chu Zhiyuan destroyed the manual, warning that it contained traps, then invited Li Yilong and Song Yichun to his estate outside the city.

Chu Zhiyuan tested the Carefree Cult’s goodwill and learned that it intended to support his possible bid for the throne. After hearing their doubts about King Ying’s chances of becoming a Grandmaster, he questioned their judgment and asked what their secret realm contained.

• Chu Zhiyuan invited Song Yichun and Li Yilong to the pavilion and asked about the Carefree Cult’s recent affairs.
• Song Yichun offered to let Chu Zhiyuan enter the Carefree Cult’s secret realm, explaining that outsiders were barred but that the cult did not consider him one.
• Song Yichun and Li Yilong revealed that the cult was betting on Chu Zhiyuan’s prospects of becoming Emperor and believed his martial talent surpassed King Ying’s.
• Song Yichun said King Ying’s old injuries and flaws in his state of mind made it unlikely that he would become a Grandmaster.
• Chu Zhiyuan defended King Ying’s claim to the throne, reflected on whether his uncle’s mental flaw could be repaired, and asked what the secret realm contained.

Chu Zhiyuan learned about the Carefree Cult’s changing secret land and its martial arts, but declined an invitation to visit. He sought intelligence on the Four Great Demonic Sects and discovered that his uncle Chu Qingfeng secretly monitored them.

• Song Yichun explained that the Carefree Cult’s vast secret land held treasures, ruins, and powerful Demon Beasts, but no living people because its mutated energy made it unsuitable for long-term habitation.
• Song Yichun invited Chu Zhiyuan to visit the secret land, but he declined, wary of becoming too close to the Four Great Sects.
• Song Yichun and Li Yilong told Chu Zhiyuan that the Carefree Cult’s strength lay in martial arts, despite its reputation for poison, and that Xiao Ruoling was visiting the cult.
• Chu Zhiyuan asked Ma Tianhe for intelligence on the Carefree Cult, and Ma Tianhe said the Supervisory Department lacked authority to investigate the Four Great Sects.
• Ma Tianhe revealed that Chu Qingfeng secretly monitored the Four Great Sects, surprising Chu Zhiyuan.